ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Central Florida arts and culture organizations felt the pinch last year after Gov. Ron DeSantis cut out roughly $32 million for the arts.

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Ron DeSantis cut $32 million in funding to the arts from last year's budget

  • One group, Central Florida Vocal Arts, said the cuts really hit their bottom line

  • Theresa Smith-Levin hopes that the budget shortfall will be addressed this year

With the legislative session underway, arts groups are now lobbying their legislators to try to secure funding for next year’s budget.

Theresa Smith-Levin lives in Winter Park, and she is hoping that the funding shortfall will be addressed this year.

“I think there are a lot of challenges in our arts community as a result of the arts funding. So, we’re very hopeful that the veto will be a one year problem,” said Smith-Levin, who is the executive director of Central Florida Vocal Arts.

The group offers free voice lessons to Orange and Osceola County Public School students.

Their overall goal is to re-imagine the future of vocal arts.

“We would have been eligible for about $58,000 of funding last year,” Smith-Levin said.

That money could have funded a position on their staff. Smith-Levin had to turn to the community to find a solution.

“We’re very lucky to be a victory cup initiative recipient as well as the Winter Park health foundation’s well together grant recipient. Those new opportunities helped us to reach new funders, new audiences. However, if we hadn’t had those opportunities come to us in 2024, we would be in a much different fiscal position,” she said.

As a result, no programs were cut. Growth, however, was stifled.

That’s why Smith-Levin is hitting the road to Tallahassee. She’s hoping to strike a chord with legislators to see arts funding restored.

“I think if we’re looking at a zero funding for many institutions two years in a row, we will lose arts organizations that do incredible work in our community,” she said.

The governor’s 2025-2026 budget proposal includes $27 million for cultural and museum grants.

The governor is also proposing new language in Florida law for such grant programs to ensure funding is provided to activities and programs that are appropriate for all age groups.